Scleropages inscriptus, a new species of bony-tongue fishes, is described from the Tenasserim or Tananthayi River basin on the Indian Ocean coast of peninsular Myanmar. It differs from the previously known Southeast Asian and Australian members of the genus in having the bones of the circumorbital and opercular series and all or most of the scales on the sides of the body densely covered with complex maze-like markings. In morphology and in meristic and morphometric characters it is closer to the other Asian species of Scleropages, S. formosus, than to S. leichhardti or S. jardinii, the two species currently recognized from the Australian Region; it is therefore referred to the subgenus Delsmania Fowler 1934 (type species S. formosus).

Tyson R. Roberts 2012. Scleropages inscriptus, a new fish species from the Tananthayi or Tenasserim River basin, Malay Peninsula of Myanmar (Osteoglossidae: Osteoglossiformes) . Aqua, International Journal of ichthyology. 18 (2): 113–118.

Odd-nosed monkeys represent one of the two major groups of Asian colobines. Our knowledge about this primate group is still limited as it is highlighted by the recent discovery of a new species in Northern Myanmar. Although a common origin of the group is now widely accepted, the phylogenetic relationships among its genera and species, and the biogeographic processes leading to their current distribution are largely unknown. To address these issues, we have analyzed complete mitochondrial genomes and 12 nuclear loci, including one X chromosomal, six Y chromosomal and five autosomal loci, from all ten odd-nosed monkey species. The gene tree topologies and divergence age estimates derived from different markers were highly similar, but differed in placing various species or haplogroups within the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix. Based on our data, Rhinopithecus represent the most basal lineage, and Nasalis and Simias form closely related sister taxa, suggesting a Northern origin of odd-nosed monkeys and a later invasion into Indochina and Sundaland. According to our divergence age estimates, the lineages leading to the genera Rhinopithecus, Pygathrix and Nasalis+Simias originated in the late Miocene, while differentiation events within these genera and also the split between Nasalis and Simias occurred in the Pleistocene. Observed gene tree discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear datasets, and paraphylies in the mitochondrial dataset for some species of the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix suggest secondary gene flow after the taxa initially diverged. Most likely such events were triggered by dramatic changes in geology and climate within the region. Overall, our study provides the most comprehensive view on odd-nosed monkey evolution and emphasizes that data from differentially inherited markers are crucial to better understand evolutionary relationships and to trace secondary gene flow.

Predation can be an important driver of population dynamics but can also pose a dilemma to conservation managers if the species interacting are of conservation concern or have a high public profile. For 5 years we conducted regular transect surveys to monitor the spatial and temporal patterns of predation of adult marine turtles by jaguars Panthera onca in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. Predation occurs throughout the study site on Tortuguero Beach although at lower rates at the northern and southern ends, probably because of increased human presence in these areas. There was a marked increase in predation, from an average of < 2 turtles predated per survey in the first season to > 5 predated per survey in the last, with 676 jaguar-predated marine turtles recorded during the study period. With a minimum of 189 individuals predated in the last season, predation of adult turtles has now reached a magnitude never before recorded in a marine turtle rookery. Although the nesting population of marine turtles in Tortuguero is one of the largest in the world and suffers from both direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures, the increase in predation by jaguars makes this ecological interaction relevant to the management of both the jaguar and marine turtle populations. The situation could lead to a potential conflict in conservation strategies that, given the flagship role of the species involved, will need to be addressed both in the context of species management and conservation marketing.

Recent morphological and molecular studies led to the recognition of two extant species of clouded leopards; Neofelis nebulosa from mainland southeast Asia and Neofelis diardi from the Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra, including the Batu Islands. In addition to these new species-level distinctions, preliminary molecular data suggested a genetic substructure that separates Bornean and Sumatran clouded leopards, indicating the possibility of two subspecies of N. diardi. This suggestion was based on an analysis of only three Sumatran and seven Bornean individuals. Accordingly, in this study we re-evaluated this proposed subspecies differentiation using additional molecular (mainly historical) samples of eight Bornean and 13 Sumatran clouded leopards; a craniometric analysis of 28 specimens; and examination of pelage morphology of 20 museum specimens and of photographs of 12 wild camera-trapped animals. Molecular (mtDNA and microsatellite loci), craniomandibular and dental analyses strongly support the differentiation of Bornean and Sumatran clouded leopards, but pelage characteristics fail to separate them completely, most probably owing to small sample sizes, but it may also reflect habitat similarities between the two islands and their recent divergence. However, some provisional discriminating pelage characters are presented that need further testing. According to our estimates both populations diverged from each other during the Middle to Late Pleistocene (between 400 and 120 kyr). We present a discussion on the evolutionary history of Neofelis diardi sspp. on the Sunda Shelf, a revised taxonomy for the Sunda clouded leopard, N. diardi, and formally describe the Bornean subspecies, Neofelis diardi borneensis, including the designation of a holotype (BM.3.4.9.2 from Baram, Sarawak) in accordance with the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Research highlights

► Evolutionary history of the Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi ► New hypothesis regarding extinctions in Sumatra associated with the Toba volcanic eruption and post-Toba recolonisation by Sunda clouded leopards. ► Revised taxonomy of the Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi, based on a combination of molecular and morphological characters. ► Official presentation of a vernacular name for Neofelis diardi, the Sunda clouded leopard ► Formal description, including the designation of a holotype, of the Bornean subspecies Neofelis diardi borneensis.

Conclusion
Following molecular and morphological results presented here, two subspecies of Neofelis diardi are recognised, namely Neofelis diardi diardi from Sumatra and the Batu Islands, and N. d. borneensis ssp. nov. from Borneo. Both subspecies should be protected and managed separately to preserve the integrity of their gene pools and their morphological distinctiveness. The IUCN already recognizes these subspecies based on the first suggestions by [Wilting et al., 2007a] and [Wilting et al., 2007b] and lists both as Endangered on the current IUCN Red List (Hearn et al., 2008b – N. d. borneensis, Sunarto et al., 2008 – N. d. diardi). This classification and the recognition of different subspecies is of utmost importance for conservation and management purposes, as these different conservation units represent an important component of the evolutionary legacy of this threatened pantherine felid species.

The clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, is an endangered semiarboreal felid with a wide distribution in tropical forests of southern and southeast Asia, including the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian archipelago. In common with many larger animal species, it displays morphological variation within its wide geographical range and is currently regarded as comprising of up to four subspecies. It is widely recognized that taxonomic designation has a major impact on conservation planning and action. Given that the last taxonomic revision was made over 50 years ago, a more detailed examination of geographical variation is needed. We describe here the results of a morphometric analysis of the pelages of 57 clouded leopards sampled throughout the species' range. We conclude that there are two distinct morphological groups, which differ primarily in the size of their cloud markings. These results are supported by a recent genetic analysis. On that basis, we give diagnoses for the distinction of two species, one in mainland Asia (N. nebulosa) and the other in Indonesia (N. diardi). The implications for conservation that arise from this new taxonomic arrangement are discussed.

Contrary to common perception, the number of living mammal species and the relationship of those species with one another are incompletely understood. Taxonomic revisions within mammals are frequent and are often motivated by the discovery of new species. In fact, an analysis of patterns of discovery suggests that complete alpha-taxonomic characterization of living mammals remains a far-off goal. Examination of chronological, geographical, and taxonomic trends in new species discoveries reveals interesting trends, telling biases, and priorities for further study. An average of 223 new valid species have been described per decade since the birth of modern taxonomic nomenclature in 1758, and this rate is increasing. Over 300

new mammal species are expected to be described this decade and some estimates suggest that 7,000+ living species of mammals will eventually be recognized. An analysis of 341 recently described species indicates that the great majority of them are restricted to threatened areas of high endemism—reiterating the biotic richness of these regions, but also indicating that most new species and the regions in which they occur require urgent conservation attention. That the global mammal fauna remains so incompletely characterized reflects the woeful state of knowledge of global biodiversity.

With nearly one quarter of mammalian species threatened, an accurate description of their distribution and conservation status is needed. For rare, shy or cryptic species, existing monitoring methods are often prohibitively expensive or unreliable. The problem is particularly acute in tropical forests, where a disproportionate number of species are listed by IUCN as ‘data deficient’, due to the difficulty of monitoring with conventional approaches. This presents serious obstacles to conservation management. We, here, describe a new screening tool, the analysis of mammalian DNA extracted from haematophagous leeches. By demonstrating that PCR amplifiable mammalian blood DNA survives for at least four months post feeding in haematophagous Hirudo spp. leeches, we hypothesise that most wild caught adult leeches will contain DNA traces of their last blood meal. We subsequently demonstrate the efficacy of the method, by testing it in situ using terrestrial Haemadipsa spp. leeches caught in a tropical Vietnamese rainforest setting, and identify cryptic, rare and newly discovered mammalian species. We propose that DNA from leeches represents a quick, cost-effective and standardised way to obtain basic data on mammalian biodiversity and species occupancy, facilitating efficient use of limited conservation resources.

Ferret-badgers, genus Melogale, are distributed in the Indochinese region, Java, Bali and NE-Borneo. There are currently four species described each having very similar phenotypes. In March 2005, a living ferret-badger of a different phenotype was confiscated by rangers from Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. This individual died and the carcass was not preserved. In January 2006, a newly deceased individual of the same phenotype was found at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, Cuc Phuong National Park. Due to several different characteristics these individuals vary greatly from the current species. Thus, we describe an additional species, M. cucphuongensis sp. nov. from northern Vietnam, which occurs sympatrically with M. moschata and M. personata, but differs from both species clearly in skull morphology and other features.

Based on a 423 bp-long fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, M. cucphuongensis sp. nov. is a member of the genus Melogale and represents a sister lineage to a clade consisting of M. personata and M. moschata.

Using camera traps, wildlife researchers including doctoral candidate Jennifer McCarthy and environmental conservation professor Todd Fuller of the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently captured photographs of one of the rarest animals on earth, the Sumatran striped rabbit. They say it may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island. (Credit: UMass Amherst)

Using camera traps, wildlife researchers including doctoral candidate Jennifer McCarthy and environmental conservation professor Todd Fuller of the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently captured photographs of one of the rarest animals on earth, the Sumatran striped rabbit. They say it may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island.

A new leporid species, Nesolagus sinensis sp. nov., is described here representing the only leporid ember of the Early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus fauna from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China and also the first fossil taxon of the Southeast Asian genus Nesolagus. Compared with two extant Nesolagus species from Indonesia and Vietnam and other related leprids, the new species has a relatively small size and an extraordinarily weak anterior internal reentrant (AIR) on p3, but it also retains the simplified paedomorphic pattern during the ontogenetic process as in extant species, which suggests that the new species is more primitive than and probably directly ancestral to extant Nesolagus species. The new species seems closely related to Alilepus longisinuosus from the Late Miocene strata of Lufeng, Yunnan, and probably diverged from a leporid similar to its ancestral form. It also indicates that Nesolagus originated in Southwest China.

Nesolagus timminsi sp. n., based on a partial skeleton from Vietnam, differs from N. netscheri (Schlegel, 1880) from Sumatra by skull length larger, foramen lacertum smaller, P2 larger and having two folds on anterior face, m3 with two columns joined by a lingual dentine bridge. Detailed osteological description of Nesolagus timminsi sp. n. is presented.

Distribution. – Annamite Mountains, Vietnam and Laos.

Etymology. – In honour of Mr. Robert J. Timmins, discoverer of the Annamiterabbit in Laos.

The distribution of a new species of striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi Averianov, Abramov et Tikhonov, 2000 is restricted to the central part of the Annamite Mountains, along the border between Vietnam and Laos. A low density of separated populations and hunting pressure in Vietnam already makes this species critically endangered.

The Annamite mountains of Laos and Vietnam have yielded several important mammalian discoveries1. We have found a striped rabbit of the previously monospecific genus Nesolagus, extending its known range more than 1,500 km north from the island of Sumatra into mainland Southeast Asia. The Sumatran and mainland Annamite populations are morphologically similar, but genetic data indicate that they have been isolated for millions of years.

The fruit-bat genus Pteralopex comprises the monkey-faced bats, a group of six endangered species found only in old-growth forests on certain islands in the south-west Pacific (the Solomon Islands and Fiji). The taxonomy of the genus is reviewed in detail and updated accordingly. Two ‘cryptic’ biological species are shown to occur in sympatry on both Bougainville and Choiseul in the northern Solomon Islands (corresponding to Pteralopex anceps Andersen, 1909 and a previously undescribed species) and each is accordingly described and reviewed. A new genus (Mirimiri) is erected for the Fijian monkey-faced bat (formerly Pteralopex acrodonta), which differs greatly both morphologically and genetically from species of Pteralopex in the Solomon Islands. Ecomorphological differences between sympatric Pteralopex species are briefly reviewed, including potential differences in functional morphology and feeding ecology. Geographic patterns of occurrence and future survey priorities for monkey-faced bats are also discussed.